Aggies' spring loaded with work for Manziel

Updated 12:08 am, Saturday, March 2, 2013

Heisman winner Johnny Manziel hasn't figured it all out on the field, according to A&M coach Kevin Sumlin.

Heisman winner Johnny Manziel hasn't figured it all out on the field, according to A&M coach Kevin Sumlin.

Aggies' spring loaded with work for Manziel

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COLLEGE STATION — Johnny Manziel was last seen on a football field lighting up Oklahoma for a Cotton Bowl-record 516 total yards. The sophomore's next spotting between the lines is this morning, when Texas A&M starts spring drills.

So what's left to work on for the Heisman Trophy winner who turned in one of the most dynamic seasons in college football history? Plenty, according to his coach.

“He can help his footwork, his mechanics, his thought process and his overall knowledge of the offense,” Kevin Sumlin said Friday. “That's all part of playing the game.”

Since winning the Heisman on Dec. 8, Manziel has become his sport's biggest celebrity, and thanks to the ever-probing eye of social media has been spotted enjoying himself plenty — as college students are wont to do — over the past three months. Sumlin was asked Friday if Manziel was “focused” for spring drills.

“We start practice (today), so we'll see,” said Sumlin, later adding he wasn't concerned about any off-field distractions for his star quarterback.

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Of more pressing concern to Sumlin is a lengthy injury list particularly hampering the defense. He said linebackers Steven Jenkins (labrum) and Justin Bass (knee) and defensive linemen Kirby Ennis (knee), Julien Obioha (back) and Ivan Robinson (Achilles) all will be out this spring.

Ennis, a starting tackle, also is suspended for an early February arrest on charges of disorderly conduct by display of a firearm.

“There are some things he's got to do internally to get back to his (previous) status,” Sumlin said.

The most dramatic position change heading into the spring involves former Madison High standout Nate Askew (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), who's been shifted to linebacker from receiver entering his senior season.

“He's one of the better athletes on our team,” Sumlin said. “He'll run a 4.4 (seconds in the 40-yard dash) and jump 40 inches, but for whatever reason it just didn't translate to playing receiver. It's an experiment, and we're looking to get our best athletes on the field. We can always move him back.”

Askew has nine catches over the past two seasons. Also, coaches have shifted Floyd Raven (6-2, 190) from cornerback to free safety, with the idea of adding Raven's physicality to the defensive middle.

“We're trying to play to Floyd's strengths,” defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said. “One thing about Floyd — he can run.”

A&M will hold its annual Maroon & White game April 13, and the Aggies open perhaps their most anticipated season in history Aug. 31 against Rice at Kyle Field.

A&M finished 11-2 in its first sojourn through the Southeastern Conference, which has won the last seven national titles, including a 29-24 toppling of national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and a 41-13 whipping of OU in the Cotton Bowl.